International Journal of Preventive Medicine (Int J Prev Med)2008-7802112017122018611861ENSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, TehranDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, & Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Disease, Pasteur Institute of Iran, TehranDepartment of Disaster Public Health, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, TehranPediatric Neurorehabilitation Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, TehranPediatric Neurorehabilitation Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, TehranSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Islamic Azad University, Tehran Medical Branch, Tehran20171220<p><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Background</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">Child‑friendly environment project (MAZDAK) is a community‑based project for monitoring the development of children in Iran that was implemented as a pilot study in one of the neighborhoods of Tehran  (Eyvanak‑e Gharb). This study attempted to engage mothers in<br />monitoring of their children&rsquo;s development and assesses the status of children&rsquo;s development by a community‑based participatory approach using the ages and stages questionnaires (ASQ).</span></p><p><strong></strong><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Methods</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">This study was a community‑based participatory research. Two hundred households residing in Eyvanak‑e Gharb with children under 5‑year‑old were selected as a convenient sample and completed the ASQ. Descriptive measures were used to describe the overall status of children,<br />in each domain. Furthermore, we compared the current sample with other populations, using independent </span><span class="fontstyle3">t</span><span class="fontstyle2">‑test. </span></p><p><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Results</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">This study engaged mothers, trained volunteers from the community, and some local institutions in screening and monitoring children development and addressing any poor developmental growth. The mean scores of the different domains (communication, gross motor,<br />fne motor, problem solving, and social‑personal) in sampled children in MAZDAK project were higher than corresponding mean scores of the children in a project conducted in Tehran in 2006.<br /></span></p><p><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Conclusions</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">Involving mothers and community in monitoring children development based on ASQ was an effective strategy to monitor and foster children development.</span></p><p><strong></strong><span class="fontstyle0" style="color: #00652e;"><strong>Keywords</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle3">Ages and stages questionnaires, community‑based participatory research, early child development, women health volunteers</span> <br style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /></p>http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/view/1861http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/download/1861/2144